Rennaira returned by dawn and to my dismay she had informed me that my brother was still alive. After a week of our arrival and searched for the dimensional gate, which was a daunting activity, we activated it only three days ago. We began our plan to conquer these humans. I still couldn't comprehend how he was still alive.
I watched the astonishing sun rise and slowly angered myself. He was on my mind, I despised him and yet. Looking over at the settlement that the humans built, with its tall structures, seemed too modest for the primitive humans. It was overflowing with sin and energy as well as the food for the monsters that will be unleashed. The dimensional gate was nearing its completion in being fully operational.
"Prince Darius, what shall we do next?" a voice asked.
I turned to be met with Ragnis, kneeling on one knee and bowing his head, behind me. His spine had thin, long spiky protrusions, his skin hard as rocky and seemed to look like plates pieced together, his red eyes that seem to pierce one's soul if stared at too long. He was a soldier I could rely on and he was a member of the Sinister Twelve.
He raised his head awaiting my response. I raised my hand signalling him to arise and stand before me.
"If he is here, he is surely on his way to stop the dimensional gate," I spoke. "We shall slow him down to allow for the success of our plan to bring the others into the world under the Demon Lord's rule."
"I understand Prince Darius, however, I may inquire on how we shall impede his progress,"
"That will be seen to by the weaker ones. Did Rennaira encounter him alone?"
"Yes but she fled away. She also said that he was not alone,"
"He is with a party? Typical of him. From what we have heard, it seems that these humans weakened him or I shall say softened him. Nonetheless, we shall not actively send the ones we have to face him, he may still be as dangerous as he was. Now, it occurs to me that they have not traversed through out the settlement. We are but a few, Lazaroth is absent and our numbers are still dwindling immensely. How concerning, isn't it?"
"That is correct my liege, not only did he have a hand in our lower numbers but the humans are also fighting back. They are quite resilient."
"Hmm, we shall speak with others who are here, once we find them,"
Ragnus nodded and walked away. This was frustrating. So, he wasn't alone. What a nuisance. I looked around the area I was standing in. It waws a damaged room, with a bench to one side, the walls were quite short and there was ceiling of any sort, it was open. It was part of an abandoned we had taken.
I looked at the sky and saw clouds. Different from home and bright. I why he stayed here, it was too beautiful to destroy.
I went back into the building using the stairs. I walked into a dark room, with nothing to allow light into. The others were waiting for me. It is very dark because some of them had died to the sunlight while others prefer to hone its power. We gathered here to discuss our plans but recently they had disappointed me. I am quick to anger.
Everyone murmured about what they had done in this world. Once they felt my presence the room fell into silence. I looked around the room intimidatingly and walked to the centre. Each one got out of my way, as they feared me. They knelt before as I went up a platform that had been placed here when they built this building.
"To all of you, I have been informed that my brother is still alive and is not working alone as he intends to us from taking over this world," I announced. "I may ask what it is we can do to impede him in his endeavour. Remember this, fighting him is futile and he is intelligent. I want you to speak your mind."
"Prince Darius, I propose we use the humans to stop him," one of them spoke.
"Please elaborate on how such foolishness would succeed. How many times shall this ludacris idea be repeated?" I said.
"My prince, why don't we control or force the humans to fight Ravedos?" one asked.
"Yes, if we force them to they shall listen and allow us to invade their world," another said.
As their continuous nonsense spread around the room, my anger slowing increased and it had become apparent to them. They all became silent, fearing for their lives as they sensed my anger. I looked around and took a slow and deep breath before I lost my composure and help my brother kill them off.
Amidst all the silence, a voice rose up and spoke out the thoughts of the one in the crowd. "Prince Darius," he said "Why don't we tell a false tale of your brother and his friends to those who will repeat it to the masses for us." I considered the idea for it was the only sound plan I have heard.
I lowered my head and thought about it. I had to leave to see Rennaira and Ragnus.
"You shall proceed with this plan, as for me I don't care how you will do it but should it fail my brother will happily receive a gift from me, and that gift will be you."
"I understand the consequences of my failure if it shall prevail as such,"
"Very well do as you please. And as for the rest of you, you shall make this plan a reality as well."
I stepped off the podium and left them to their discussion. I arrived by the dimensional gate and had Rennaira, Ragnis and Garig by the gate waiting for me. The lustrous succubus, the slow yet intelligent one and the him, the monster. Three members of the Sinister Twelve. For millennia they have served the Demon Lord and executed his every command, once feared by all beings and mortals when Ravedos lead them. But now they have become shells of their former selves after his betrayal.
They turned to me and bowed to show their respect. Ragnis walked up to me to speak, in a form that looked similar to the humans as Rennaira and Garig were as well.
"Prince Darius, the others have not arrived yet," he informed me.
"When will they come through?"
"In two more days. Some of the beasts have escaped from our home and we have managed to direct them through tunnels as the humans call them,"
"Is this the optimal location for all of this, Ragnis?"
"Yes my lord."
"I wanted to speak to all of you together but I will have to wait. Rennaira, why have you followed the path of cowardice?"
"Prince Darius, I would have fought your brother on my own however he was accompanied by other beings who possessed magical abilities. Facing them by myself was not a wise a decision,"
"Beings with magical abilities? That is quite intriguing to say the least. Fine then I will leave you all be."
I left them and I returned back from the stadium ruins Garig called it. I sat down on the stone seat in the damaged building. I was thinking of what was to become after releasing my kind into this world. I had no reason to do any of this but I follow what the Demon Lord commands.
Then an invisible individual appeared in front of me. Studying me as it didn't seem to attack. In the next moment that being was under my heel. Then it became visible and struggled. I slowly pressed my heel further into their chest.
"My lord, Prince Darius, I come to deliver a message from your father,"
I stepped off the messengers chest and allowed them to stand. The messenger was taking a few breaths to recover itself. The messenger spoke to me, and said that my father requires me back in his mansion for he has something I have to do for him. The messenger themselves were as curious as I but it had nothing to concern them.
"Is that all he had to tell you?"
"Yes, Prince Darius, that is all he had given me to deliver to you. I am aware that you have other things to do here, however your father's wishes come before the commander."
"I see, very well. Before I leave I shall speak to the members of the Sinister Twelve to inform them of my departure."
"As you wish my lord,"
The messenger then teleported right in front of me. It had magic power to be able to travel between dimensions unlike the others and I. The magic was originally meant to traverse our home faster rather than flying around all the time. It has proven useful for the few who possessed the ability but it also made them targets to their own people.
Ragnis had left the dimensional gate in the care of Rennaira and Garig. He had gone back to speak with the others. I approached them and informed them of my plans. They didn't question anything about the sudden decision by my father and accepted to proceed in my absence.
"For now you shall not engage my brother, he shall be occupied by the humans if those fools succeeded. You must focus on the dimensional gate and make sure that nothing interferes with it. The others in the settlement have not returned so I believe my brother has taken care of them."
"Is that so. We shall make sure he-"
"My brother should not concern you, not at the moment. Rennaira, you can continue with you had planned to do even you Garig, but do not forget that we have to succeed in conquering this world."
"Yes my lord,"
I went through the dimensional gate and set off to see my father.